Colored Stones

Colored Stones

By: Satrana

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Chapter Three
One The Horizon

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Disclaimer: I think you all know I don’t own them. I’d take credit for the li’l originals like McKavenaugh, but I don’t care. ^^

Author’s Notes: Well, I’m so glad to see people enjoying my work! Although, goodness there were a lot of spelling screw-ups in the last chapter. At least for me. That shouldn’t be repeated here. Oh yes, and some nice reader brought it to my attention that the format was a bit hard ro read, so I’ll be fixing that here too! ^^ Also, there are certain characters that I have not dealt much with yet, but everyone should get a bit of time in chapter four.

Warnings: BradxSchu sex! Yay! Also, possibly some OOC-ness.

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The table was a long, dark wooden thing. It was designed to seat twelve and it was nearly doing so tonight. At the table’s head sat Shuichi, with his wife to his right and son to his left. Crawford sat beside Erika, and Nagi beside Omi. Jei sat next to Crawford and Schuldig sat, unhappily, across from the blond. Fujimiya senior was seated at the other end of the table, with his son to his right and his daughter to his left.

Ran glanced down the table at Omi. He rather wished that their families did the “kiddie table” thing. At least then he would be able to talk to his friends and not have to endure the uncomfortable silence that seemed to have descended over their meal. Perhaps a part of it was due to the straight-backed chairs they were seated in. At the Fujimiya residence, they used a traditional low table and floor cushions, but the “Tsukiyono”s had done their best to westernize.

Despite the quiet that usually accompanied meal time at the Fujimiya residence, this was still very uncomfortable. Ran glanced at his father very quickly, noting that he crlearly had no intention of speaking. He glanced across the table and caught Aya’s eye. She gave him a sympathetic look and continued eating.

The silence, save for the gentle clatter of silverware against plates and bowls, remained until the meal was finished. At that point Shuichi seemed to take pity on his guests because he stood and invited everyone to join him in the living room before dessert.

The atmosphere in the living room was much less tense, but there was still a sense that some rather unpleasant thing was looming just over the horizon.

“Fujimiya-san,” Shuichi began, standing beside the large picture window that overlooked the front lawn. He reached up and pulled the cord to close the vertical blinds. “Kojiro,” he amended, turning to look at his friend. “I believe my brother may have tracked me down here. If he hasn’t discovered my new identity, yet, he certainly knows I am somewhere in this city and,” hr took a breath, never having enjoyed being the bearer of bad news. “And that means he very likely knows that you are here as well. Although you’re no longer involved with his money, Reiji is a vengeful man.”

Kojiro Fujimiya sat perfectly still as the news was delivered. Ran, who had been standing against the wall nearby so that Aya could sit beside their father, looked up. They had left Japan when Ran was very young and Aya had been only a baby. But they both knew that Reiji Takatori was not a man to be trifled with. Although Ran had gotten the impression, from the few times that his father had discussed the man, that he was not terribly intelligent and more blatantly power-hungry than was good for him, he was also aware of the power the man held. Their mother had divorced their father and run all the way to France even remarried to be sure that she was no longer connected to the Fujimiya name. She had tried to take Rand Aya with her, but the courts had stopped her. Kojiro had been given full custody.

He had left Japan, and his old firm behind, severed all ties with the Takatoris, save one. He had enlisted Shuichi’s help to hide his family from Reiji. Ran was not entirely sure why his father and Shuichi were so afraid of Reiji Takatori, but he knew they did have a reason. He really was not in any hurry to find out what that reason was, either. He would have preferred never to have need to find out. But now ...

“What do you want me to do, Shuichi?” Kojiro asked before Ran could speak. “Pack up and run away again? I can’t do that. And what good would it be anyway? You said yourself that Reiji is vengeful. Do you really think he’ll give up if he fails to find us this once? I’m sure he scoured Japan for any hint of either of us.”

“You’re right.” Schuichi said. “Knowing my brother, he would see our moving on before he could find us as another insult.”

“Then we stay.” Kojiro said.

“Yes, we stay.” Shuichi agreed. “But I can’t ask my family and your children to do the same. He’ll kill them if he can, but they will be secondary targets.” Schuichi looked around the room. What he was saying would be news to everyone but Crawford. “Mamoru. You and Erika and your guard are going to go to an apartment in the city. Ran, Aya, you are welcome to go with them.”

Ran looked at his sister, then to his father. Kojiro nodded. “I think you should both go.”

Ran nodded solemnly. There were many reasons that he would have preferred to stay, but he would respect his father’s wishes. Besides, he knew that if he refused to go, Aya would as well and he wanted her to be safe.


“But ...” Aya spoke up. “Well, what about school? Ran’s set to graduate this year. Will we get to finish?”

“You may.” Shuichi said, clearly trying to give the girl some hope that they would. “There are three weeks left of the term, and you do not have to leave for the city immediately. Only if Reiji gets too close. Although, Ran, I’d advise you to wear hats or color your hair for a while. I saw Hirofumi on my way home today. He’ll remember what you look like.”

Only Nagi and Crawford seemed to noticed the little twitch Omi gave at the mention of his older cousin. Crawford let it go, deciding that if it was important, it could be discussed later. Nagi, who was sitting on the arm of the couch beside Omi, surreptitiously reached a hand down to stroke along the blond’s spine. Omi leaned back into the touch some.

Ran nodded at Shuichi’s suggestion that he hide his vibrant hair. It was nearing summer again, so a hat or cap would not seem too out-of-place. Still, this was only going to make it more difficult to see Yohji. He still didn’t think he would ever get to date him, but the blond seemed to be interested in friendship. Ran had seen him with Schuldig and knew he was a good friend, and good friends were something Ran had very few of.

*****

Schuldig was pissed. It had been obvious since Crawford had seen the redhead com down the young main stairs. He had been staying out of the telepath’s way since they had arrived at the house but he could not avoid him forever. And, of course, it seemed that Schu has recognized his change of mood sooner than he had wanted. Damned unpredictable creature. As much as Schuldig might mean to him, and Crawford was not about admit how much that might really be, his unpredictability was just infuriating.

Still, it had not been hard to know how Schuldig would react to the news that, at any time, he could be told to pack up and move to the city and leave behind his ... well, convenient lay, anyway. Schuldig had always overindulgent of himself and he liked sex. There were occasions when Crawford how the pixie-ish young man managed it. He could have the kind of all-night sex that forced most people to call in sick for the next two days, and still get up and do his job. Not that he would do it willingly, but it was possible. It was actually a bit disturbing ...

Crawford had just gotten out of the shower, the Fujimiya’s having been on their way home a few hours earlier. He stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped about his waist, and found the object of his thoughts stretched out on his bed. Truthfully they shared it more often than not, but Schu did still have his own room. Crawford did not look too long, turning to dress for the night instead.

“If you plan on sleeping here, you’ll have to do it on one side of the bed.” Crawford commented over his shoulder.

“Fuck off. I’ll take up as much bed as I want.” Schuldig said.

“I can move you by force.”

“I won’t make it easy.”

Crawford allowed himself a small scowl before adjusting his glasses and turning to face Schuldig. “What?” he asked.

“I’ll kick you or punch or bit or something. Whatever-“ Schu began

“What is it that has you so disagreeable suddenly?” Crawford clarified. Perhaps it was the incident at the school. At first Crawford had been rather pleased with how well he seemed to have manipulated his little redhead into complacency, but thinking about it now, he might have been too effective. After all, when he had gone in for the kill with that “I love you” bit, Schu had said it back. That had actually been rather a surprise. But with Schu it was always hard to tell if he meant what he said, at least out loud. He had never lied or exaggerated to him mentally.

“What the Hell was that at school? All that love shit and I swear if you tell me you did it to distract me so I wouldn’t see this apartment-in-the-city crap coming, I am gonna fry your brain!” Schu growled the last part.

You won’t.” Crawford replied. Not that Schu could, not yet. Someday he would probably be able to get past the oracle’s shields, but he couldn’t do it yet. “I do not need to explain myself to you, Schuldig. Are you going to move?”

“Make me.” Schu tossed his hands behind his head and closed his eyes.

Crawford nodded. He was not going to give in to the telepath, but he would have his bed. He went to the side of the bed and deftly flipped up the blanket, tossing Schu onto the floor.

A shriek signaled his success and a growl signaled when Schu had picked himself up. Crawford failed to hide a small smirk as he walked around the bed to where Schu was kneeling on the floor. The redhead rolled over, looking up at Crawford.

“Why didn’t you hit me?” Schu scowled.

Crawford knelt down, being careful to keep the robe he had put on closed. He made sure to watch Schu closely as he spoke, knowing he was in a rather vulnerable position and not wishing to get kicked in the balls.

“I don’t actually enjoy hitting you.” Crawford said. “But sometimes you do things that are just so stupid and you are just so thick-headed, that there is no other way to get through to you.”

Schu pouted for another moment before speaking again. “Dammit, Bradley. You know I like this job. If the others go to the city, I wanna stay and help you kill people.”

Crawford let a little breath that might have been a sigh if someone else had done it. Maybe he did love this maniacal little creature. “What if I say we’ll see?”

Schu suddenly the most irritating grin on his face. “Don’t you know?”

This time Crawford did hit him. It wasn’t really hard, a sort of gentle open-handed slap across one cheek. It did make Schu toss his head to the side.

“Oh, baby, hit me harder.” Schu grinned.

“You don’t really want me to hit you.” His voice was lower than normal, more a growl. Crawford knew what Schuldig was after and he would give it to him. If he would say it out loud.

“Mmm, what do I want, Bradley?”

“You tell me.”

Schu reached up a hand, slipping his fingers under the hem of his own shirt. He stroked them over his sensitive stomach, knowing Crawford liked to see the muscles there jump. “I think you know.” Schu said. He did appear rather determined not to give Crawford what he wanted.

Crawford leaned in over the redhead and spoke in a sort of soft rumble. “If you tell me, I’ll fuck you hard.”

“As hard as I want?” Schu knew the answer already.

Crawford nodded, then dipped his head to nibble at Schu’s neck. After a moment of silence he bit hard enough to leave a mark, but not hard enough to draw blood.

Schu gasped, his hands coming up to wrap around Crawford’s neck. “Ah, I want you to fuck me hard, Bradley!”

Crawford obliged by moving his mouth from Schu’s neck before lifting him back onto the bed. Schuldig removed his t-shirt quickly, revealing that lovely expanse of neck and chest. Crawford held back a growl of pleasure at the sight of his mark on Schu’s neck. His robe and Schu’s pants were gone in moments and a tube of lube had been produced from somewhere.

It did not take Crawford long to prepare Schuldig, which was a good thing as even if he had wanted to take longer, Schuldig was very insistent on being fucked now. Schuldig moaned and cursed a bit when he was entered, then more when Crawford began to move. Moments later Schuldig was being ruthlessly pounded down into the mattress until a low half-scream was torn from his throat as he came. Crawford came shortly after him.

He rolled off of his lover, reaching over the side of the bed to find something to clean off with. Schuldig snorted when his own t-shirt was tossed at him. Tossing the shirt back on the floor when he was done, Schuldig managed enough of a movement to put him against Crawford’s side. Crawford did not move closer, only bent to pull the covers up from the foot of the bed.

By morning Schuldig would likely be wrapped around him like a snake, but Crawford would not cuddle consciously. It was then, just before drifting off into sleep, that the steady headache that signaled the start of a vision hit.

*****

Okay, I don’t know how in-character I managed to keep everyone, but I’m fairly happy with this. Anyway, it’ll be a little while before chapter 4 because I intend for it to be a rather long chapter.